Once a home hits the market, certain steps can be taken to maximize the attention it receives from buyers. Staging a home can help buyers see its potential — about 40% of buyers say that staging
affects how they view a property.
Luckily, effective staging doesn’t need to be complicated or expensive. There are simple steps that can be taken to stage a home and consequently maximize its value.
Gather Relevant Paperwork
The first step of this process should involve gathering relevant paperwork for the home that shows the work you’ve put into improving and maintaining it. You want to be able to tell potential buyers how much it costs to maintain the home every month as well as how much you’ve put into renovations throughout your time there. Collecting average utility bills, warranties, and invoices for any updates or renovations can help demonstrate this.
Begin the Decluttering Process
Go out and grab yourself some boxes and packing tape! Invest initially in about $100 worth of packing materials. This will ensure you have more than enough moving materials to begin with and will go a long way to reduce stress. If you have an excessive amount to move, you may also want to consider renting a POD storage locker.
Begin by clearing out anything you haven’t worn or used in a year or anything your kid doesn’t play with daily. Clear out your closets (doing so will make them appear larger) and ensure all clothing is out of sight.
Clear the Clutter from Your Bathrooms
Next, focus on sprucing up the bathrooms. Take care to ensure these are clean and free of clutter.
- Put away toiletries and find a new home for everything under the sink, ensuring all countertops and other surfaces are clear
- Invest in new white or neutral patterned towels that will be put out specifically during showings (a great place to find these will be Amazon!)
- Invest in new and affordable bathroom accessories that will help space appear updated — identify aesthetic soap dishes, toothbrush holders, bath mats, shower curtains, and towel racks that will make your bathrooms appear clean and unused.
Make Your Kitchen the Star
The kitchen is the most important room in the house. The kitchen and the surrounding areas are where buyers often picture themselves and their families spending the most time in, so be sure to spend a good amount of effort in tidying this area and ensuring that it looks its best.
- Store small appliances (such as your blender, toaster, etc.) in cabinets, so the counters look as clean as possible
- Clean the inside of and wipe down every cabinet and drawer
- Add drawer liners
- Make sure half of your regular containers are visible in cabinets, as you want to show buyers that there is more than enough storage space
- Clean the inside of the fridge and remove any clutter from the outside (such as magnets and calendars)
- Turn on the self-cleaning function on your oven
- Store your alcohol in hidden spaces and remove all empty bottles that are being used as decor
Create Inviting and Organized Bedrooms
Ensure that all bedrooms in your home appear welcoming and free of clutter. Buyers want to picture themselves comfortably living here, so take care to remove any overly personal items.
- Remove any clutter from the tops of dressers, dressing tables, and nightstands
- Leave a small pile of books or a lamp to create visual interest
- Invest in a neutral duvet cover — often, agents will have these in their staging inventory, and you can use them for free
- Remove personal photos
- Add an area rug to make the space feel warm and inviting
- Remove furniture that doesn’t fit in the room and store these large pieces off-site
If you’ve converted a bedroom to an office, discuss with your agent what strategy would be most beneficial to take.
Deep Clean the Living and Dining Room Areas
Most buyers want to see that these spaces are presentable, as their guests will be spending most of their time in these rooms. Take care to ensure the room is looking organized and welcoming to all.
- Clean the sofa & dining room chairs
- Invest in new throw pillows
- Hide wires from electronic devices
- Ensure the bookshelves are half full
- Make it look like people would want to gather and eat there
- Remove all homework, paperwork, books, and piles that have accumulated over the years
Staging makes your space feel welcoming and inviting so that buyers can see themselves there in the future. For more help with staging, contact experienced agents Theo Jordan and Katie Cassman by emailing
[email protected] or calling 847-624-6236.
